Gregg Popovich Extension Great For Next Generation of San Antonio Spurs

By Andrew Fisher

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Everybody knew that Gregg Popovich was going to be back with the San Antonio Spurs for at least one more season. But now it appears he’ll be staying in San Antonio for the foreseeable future and then some.

Gregg Popovich has agreed to a contract extension, Spurs say in release. I had been told he was eager to coach another 4-5 years.

Clearly this is great news for fans of the Spurs. With Tim Duncan deciding to come back, the band will all be back together for a run at another title in 2015.

But what about the post-Duncan era?

Guys like the future hall-of-famer aren’t easily replaceable. The Spurs are going to reel when Duncan hangs up his sneakers, no doubt about it. But as long as Pop is running the show from the sidelines, they’re going to be alright.

This news of a new contract is great in the short-term, and it’s even better in the long run. If the San Antonio front office does its job, the transition from the Big Three era won’t be as difficult as some have projected. With Popovich there to guide the new Spurs and teach them the correct way to play the game — who’s to say the Spurs couldn’t completely reload in the next four to five years and consistently stay in the title picture?

Call him the glue or whatever you want, but there’s no denying that the Spurs wouldn’t be as good without Pop.

San Antonio fans are excited beyond belief right now. The rest of the league, not so much.